1928 (Nov 21) Port Moresby-USA Internal Airmail Combination Franking (AAMC.P1a) on registered cover to East Orange, NJ with Lakatois ½d (14) & 2d pair tied 'PORT MORESBY/PAPUA' datestamps, red/white registration label, cover carried by ship to Australia and then to West Coast of America, USA 5c Beacon Airmail tied by 'SAN FRANCISCO/JAN20/CALIF/1929' transit to the reverve paying the domestic airmail fee, fine condition, Cat. $800. Only 15 examples of Papua/USA combination frankings are known.Provenance: Tom Frommer (Image)

Estimate AU$500-750
Min. Bid. AU$460

Pacific Islands Survey Flight: Sept. - Dec.1926 (AAMC.P2) 25 Sept.1926 Sydney - Lindenhafen, New Guinea, via Daru and Port Moresby with THURSDAY ISLAND 10 OC 26 cds applied in transit: A cover flown by Group Captain Richard Williams on his survey flight from Melbourne to various Pacific Islands in a DH50A seaplane. The intention was to follow the East Coast as far as Thursday Island and then via Papua, New Britain and the Solomon Islands to the New Hebrides and New Caledonia before turning east again for Fiji and Samoa. Engine trouble and sickness at Honiara caused the crew of Williams, McIntyre and Trist to fly no further than Tulagi in the Solomons and they returned to Melbourne, via Papua. This was one of the most adventurous survey flights undertaken up to that date. Of the 50 covers carried only a few survive. Flown mail was classed as official, but the general public was unable to forward mail. Accompanying the cover are several contemporary photographs including one showing the arrival at Lindenhafen. [NB: The Nelson Eustis covers from this flight sold in our March 2008 auction of his gold medal collection, for $19,000 and $23,000 hammer prices.](1 cvr + 5 photos)Provenance: Ray Kelly, Alan Grey (Image)

Estimate AU$16,000-20,000
Min. Bid. A

1926 (Oct.11) Pacific Islands Survey Flight (AAMC.P2a ) with Biplane over Map illustration in blue, addressed to NSW with Lakatois 1½d on face plus 1½d & 3d on reverse all cancelled by DARU '11OC26' datestamps, cover flown by Group Captain Richard Williams internally to Port Moresby, a couple of trivial blemishes, A great rarity of Papuan Aerophilately with only six of the 50 covers carried bearing Papua frankings, Cat. $17,500. Ceremuga Certificate (2009).  [The intended route from Australia via Papua & New Britain, Solomon Islands, New Hebrides & New Caledonia, Fiji & Samoa was abandoned at Tulagi due to engine trouble and illness with the flight returning to Melbourne on 7/12/26.] Provenance: Tom Frommer   (Image)

Estimate AU$12,000-15,000
Min. Bid. A

13 Mar.1931 (AAMC.P29) Port Moresby - Salamaua, cover flown by Guinea Airways, arrival datestamp 14.3.31 at Salamaua. Ex Gill. [Only four examples recorded.]. (Image)

Estimate AU$1,000-1,500
Min. Bid. AU$

20 Dec. 1932 (AAMC.P51) Kokoda-Salamaua long cover with Lakatois 3d 'AIR MAIL' overprint plus Pictorials set to 2/- tied 'KOKODA ND/NEW GUINEA' d/s carried by F Drayton in a Guinea Airways Junkers F13, minor aging marks on a couple of stamp perfs only, Cat. $850. Only 10 covers flown. The pilot was killed in a crash at Wau six days later.  (Image)

Estimate AU$500-750
Min. Bid. AU$400

26 Aug. & 26 Sept.1933 (AAMC.P66) Port Moresby - Rabaul intermediate flight covers (2): Port Moresby - Samarai Reg'd (26 Aug.) & Port Moresby - Talasea (26 Sept.); the delay in the flight caused by the need for repairs following a forced landing on the Mambare River. Cat.$600. (Image)

Estimate AU$300-400
Min. Bid. AU$240

5-9 Nov.1935 (AAMC.P93) Port Moresby - Oroville Police Camp cover, flown and signed by Sturat Campbell in a Short Scoin Seaplane; also signed and dated on reverse by Cecil Cowley, the O.I.C. [89 flown]. Cat.$300. (Image)

Estimate AU$200-250
Min. Bid. AU$150

20 Jan.1938 (AAMC.P123) Sydney - Cape York cover flown and signed by Barbara Hitchins in her Gispy Moth "Felicity", endorsement at left and cancelled (25.1.38) on arrival at Cape York en route for Port Poresby. [5 flown]. (Image)

Estimate AU$400-500
Min. Bid. AU$360